Jessie J Talks Diplo, Max Martin and Her New Hit Single ‘Bang Bang’

Jessie J made a big splash with her new single, “Bang Bang” featuring Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj. On the heels of the collaboration, Jessie spoke to Radio.com to offer some insight into the recording of the No. 1 on iTunes hit and give us a preview of her forthcoming album.

Max Martin, the hit maker behind so many pop favorites that we don’t even begin knowing where to name them (but the list can start with ‘NSYNC and keep running until you hit Taylor Swift), produced the song and brought Jessie into the fray first. When she heard the track, she thought it was “vocally exciting” and a track she could use to prove herself to the world again.

“Basically, Max’s idea was to almost create a girl band as opposed to featuring [girls],” says Jessie, “being a moment of empowering women and a song that gets you on your feet. I started it first, then Ariana jumped on and then Nicki jumped on. It kind of became what it is right now: a moment, a party.”

Jessie revealed as she was leaving our interview, on July 29, that she was flying to L.A. to shoot the video the next day.

“The video is going to be lots of dancers, lots of performance, lots of leg…Me, Nicki and Ariana are all going to be there,” J said. “Two days [of] sunshine, oil spray and looking hot. Like, actually hot. Like just heat rash probably with my luck.”

She also let slip some details about her forthcoming album, including a track produced by Diplo called “Sweet Talker.” She said the Diplo hooked her with the tease: it’s apparently got a drop that just won’t come, creating a riveting anticipation in the audience. She says it’s unlike anything she’s done before song on her new album.

“I met Diplo years ago in L.A. He’s really quirky and different and cool,” she said of the famed producer. “He hears things how no one else hears things. That’s what makes him so unique.”

“Bang Bang” is available now, although J’s new album release date and name have not yet been announced. A companion music video is sure to follow soon.